The Benefits of Wisdom
1 My children, listen to what your father teaches you. Pay attention, and you will have understanding. 2 What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all. 3 When I was only a little boy, my parents' only son, 4 my father would teach me. He would say, “Remember what I say and never forget it. Do as I tell you, and you will live. 5 Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say. 6 Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe. 7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. 8 Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor. 9 She will be your crowning glory.”
10 Listen to me, my child. Take seriously what I am telling you, and you will live a long life. 11 I have taught you wisdom and the right way to live. 12 Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run. 13 Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life—guard it well. 14 Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked. 15 Don't do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way. 16 Wicked people cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong. They lie awake unless they have hurt someone. 17 Wickedness and violence are like food and drink to them.
18 The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come. 19 The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.
20 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen to my words. 21 Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart. 22 They will give life and health to anyone who understands them. 23 Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. 24 Never say anything that isn't true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words. 25 Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame. 26 Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. 27 Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go one step off the right way.
Kandrakado Tavouni ro
1 Ŋgwai maro, nyèri ŋgaemba täpi amiro ro, ago mìru, tana nyà'do robe tauni be. 2 Tase mabe atana ämiri ono orivoya kado; nye'be ŋgaamba maro ko. 3 Tana ma bedri ŋgaga agoŋwa ro zo täpi maro roya, ma toto ni ŋgwa alodi endre maro ro, 4 täpi maro emba mate. Nda atate märi ekye: “Miyi ata maro ndi drî miro ya ago nyäti ŋgaemba maro 'dooko miri na ndi. 5 Nya'do tavouni be, ago tauni be! Nyije ta maro ko ago minaru koni ŋgaemba maro yasi. 6 Minja ko tavouni lomvo, tana ätina mi ni, nyulu anya tana anya gagana mi ni. 7 Ŋgase a'done sina käti ni tavouni. Ta'dota nya'do tavouni be, ago mile ca a'done ŋga cini azaka be oko nya'do tauni be. 8 Nyulu tavouni, tana anya o'bana mi ni 'desi ro. Nyomvo anya, tana ezina taoro ni miri. 9 Anya osona foce yauni ro 'da midri, ago a'dona 'da tagyia liŋgyiekye ro miri.”
10 Ŋgwa maro, nyeri ta maro, ago miru tase mabe itina miri ono, 'dooko ndroa ori miro ro a'dona ndi amba. 11 Memba mite liti tavouni roya; ago melepe mite liti taŋgye roya. 12 Ondro ka'do nyate aba tavouni si ŋgaaza unina ko edrene liti miro dri, ago ondro nyate umu oko minina ko umune parapara. 13 Nyäti ŋgaemba emba mibe sina ono ndi, nyije tana ko; nyagaga kadoro tana ni adri miro owo. 14 Nyoyi ko vose takozi'bai kayibe oyi kigye 'do ya. Miso ko taoye takozi'bai ro voro. 15 Miga tana zo; nyoyi ko kigyesi. Nyana mi lozo ni taundiro resi! ago nyoyi ŋgye liti miro yasi. 16 Tana lidri se koziro niyi ko u'dune madale ànya oyenayi ŋgakozi aza lutu. Ànya kayi u'du miuŋbo madale ànya oyenayi 'diaza lutu koziro. 17 Tana ŋgaonya ànyaro ni takozi oye ago vino ànyaro ni kyilaoye.
18 Liti takado'bai ro laba oso ŋgaeyi kitu ituvoro ronye, ŋgaeyina ugu voeyi te ndra madale vo laya gwo ndiya. 19 Oko liti takozi'bai ro, orivoya ŋgätini ro oso ŋgätini gbiṛikyiri ronye. Ànya niyi ŋgase kabe ànya o'ba lo'dene 'do ko.
20 Ŋgwa maro, miga bi tase mabe atana erine. Nyeri ata maro. 21 Mi'ba tana kuje koni midrisi, mi'ba tana kori 'du ya miro ya. 22 Anya orivoya adri yi 'dise kuni ànya be 'do ri, ago ozona a'do jiŋgyiri ni lomvo anyaro ri. 23 Nya'do taoti be tavo usuvoya, tana adri miro ka ori tausu miro si. 24 Nyata tase ko ŋgye 'do ko alona. Nyana mi ni ata undiro yasi. 25 Mindrevo 'du mileyaro; ago mi'ba mi ŋgase mileya dri. 26 Mira tase nyabe oyena 'do taoti si, 'dooko ŋgase cini nyabe oyena a'dona ndi kadoro. 27 Miku ko drigwo ya kode gaṛi ya, mina mi lozo ni taundiro yasi.